Chapter 85 Reporting Results

When Fang Lin received the cost accounting report sent by Li Xiao, she was working overtime in the office of the Science and Technology Security Bureau.

She clicked on the attachment, and her gaze fell on that number—the comprehensive cost per ton of lithium carbonate equivalent was less than 35,000 yuan.

Three seconds later, she picked up the landline on her desk and dialed an internal number.

"Senior leader, there is a document that requires your personal review. Now."

Forty minutes later, Fang Lin sat in a windowless conference room.

Opposite her was an elderly man with graying temples, wearing a plain Zhongshan suit and reading glasses, flipping through the report page by page. The conference room was very quiet, with only the sound of paper turning.

Fang Lin waited patiently.

The old man read very slowly, sometimes stopping to stare at a certain piece of data for a long time before continuing to flip through. He spent nearly half an hour reading the twenty-plus-page report.

After turning the last page, the old man took off his reading glasses and looked up.

"Has this data been verified?"

"Li Xiao is a key member of Lin Mo's team and has a background in data analysis, so she is very rigorous. She calculated it three times and even left a 10% margin," Fang Lin said. "Lin Mo also confirmed it, saying that the actual operating cost might be even lower."

The old man was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "What is the current cost of lithium extraction from ore?"

Fang Lin was well-prepared: "For Australian spodumene, the landed cost is around 55,000; for South American salt lakes, it's a little over 40,000; for domestic lepidolite, it can be as high as 80,000. This is based on the market before the price hike; if international lithium prices rise further, the gap will be even larger."

The old man nodded, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the ceiling, as if thinking about something.

Fang Lin waited.

She knew that this old man did not express his opinion easily, but once he did, it was final.

"Xiao Fang," the old man suddenly spoke.

"Yes."

"When do you think it is appropriate to announce this achievement?"

Fang Lin took a deep breath: "This is exactly what I came to ask for your instructions on. You already know the news from Australia; the production reduction agreement will be officially announced next month. If we announce the cost advantage of Lithium Extraction from Seawater before they announce it, it will be equivalent to directly destroying their trump card—they want to use lithium resources to throttle us, and we are telling them: you cannot."

The old man didn't speak, signaling her to continue.

"But the problem is that Lithium Extraction from Seawater is still in the Pilot-scale production stage and is still some distance away from industrial mass production. If we announce it too early, it's equivalent to exposing our trump card in advance, and if we encounter difficulties in subsequent industrialization, we will be in a passive position," Fang Lin said. "So my suggestion is: choose the right time to announce it, but ensure that the core technology is kept absolutely confidential."

The old man looked at her, the corners of his mouth rising slightly: "Choose the right time to announce—how do we grasp this 'time'?"

Fang Lin thought for a moment: "Wait until the industrialization path is completely clear and the offshore floating platform plan is mature. Announcing it then will not only deter our opponents but also prevent us from being put on the spot. As for the specific timing, I suggest we listen to Lin Mo and his team—they are on the front line and know the progress best."

The old man nodded, stood up, and walked to the window.

Outside the window was the night view of Beijing, with thousands of lights.

"How many times have you met this Lin Mo?"

"Many times," Fang Lin said. "Steady, rational, and has strategic vision. Room-Temperature Superconductivity, Lithium-Sulfur Battery, Lithium Extraction from Seawater, every step is ahead of the curve. Plus, he has a way of leading a team; even someone as arrogant as Chen Xueming is now completely convinced by him."

The old man was silent for a while, then turned around.

"Tell Lin Mo that the country thanks him and his team. Tell them to go ahead and do it, and if they need any support, just report it directly." He paused. "As for the announcement, my opinion is: make it public when the time is ripe, but the core technology must be kept absolutely confidential. You and Lin Mo should grasp this balance together."

Fang Lin stood up: "Understood."

The old man walked back to the table, picked up the report, and looked at it again.

"Lithium Extraction from Seawater... 35,000..." he muttered. "Back when we were working on the Two Bombs, One Satellite, who would have thought that one day we could extract lithium from seawater, and it would be so much cheaper than from ore?"

Fang Lin did not speak.

The old man handed the report back to her: "Go. Tell Lin Mo that I am waiting for their good news."

It was already eleven o'clock at night when Fang Lin walked out of the conference room.

She stood at the entrance of the building, looked at the night sky, took a deep breath, and then dialed Lin Mo's number.

In the Gobi Desert, Lin Mo was standing next to the reaction kettle, discussing the optimization plan for the next phase with Chen Xueming. His phone vibrated; he glanced at the caller ID and walked aside.

"Director Fang."

"Lin Mo, I have read the report and submitted it." There was a hint of imperceptible excitement in Fang Lin's voice. "The higher-ups have given the instruction: make it public when the time is ripe, but the core technology must be kept absolutely confidential."

Lin Mo was silent for two seconds: "How do we grasp 'when the time is ripe'?"

"You decide," Fang Lin said. "The leader said that you are on the front line and know the progress best. When you feel that the industrialization path is completely clear and the offshore floating platform plan is mature, report it, and we will arrange the announcement."

Lin Mo felt a slight warmth in his heart.

"Also," Fang Lin continued, "the leader asked me to tell you: the country thanks you and your team. Go ahead and do it, and if you need any support, just report it directly."

Holding the phone, Lin Mo looked at the dark sand dunes in the distance and was silent for a few seconds.

"Director Fang, please thank the leader on our behalf," he said. "And thank you, too."

"What is there to thank?" Fang Lin laughed. "You are fighting on the front lines, and we are supporting you from the rear; it's only right."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Mo stood in place, looking at the starry sky.

The night wind in the Gobi Desert was a bit cool, but it felt comfortable on his face.

Chen Xueming walked over: "Director Fang's call?"

Lin Mo nodded.

"What did she say?"

Lin Mo repeated the instructions from the higher-ups.

After listening, Chen Xueming was silent for a while, then said: "Core technology must be kept absolutely confidential... we need to think about this carefully. Smith is coming to verify it in a month; how do we let him see it without letting him see through it?"

Lin Mo looked at him: "Do you have any ideas?"

Chen Xueming thought for a moment: "The core is the adsorbent. The reason Lithium Extraction from Seawater can have such a low cost is the key selection and preparation process of the adsorbent. We can let him see this part, but we cannot let him get the formula."

Lin Mo nodded: "What else?"

"Process parameters," Chen Xueming said. "Temperature, pressure, flow rate, concentration—we can show him the results of this specific data, but we cannot let him know how the process was optimized."

"Also the control system," Lin Mo added. "The data model developed by Li Xiao is the real core. Without this model, even if we dismantle the device and give it to him, he won't be able to achieve our costs."

Chen Xueming looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Your brain works faster than mine."

Lin Mo also laughed: "We complement each other."

The two stood side by side, looking at the lights on the construction site in the distance.

Li Xiao poked her head out of the Prefabricated Building: "Teacher Chen, Teacher Lin, aren't you coming back? Midnight snack is here!"

Chen Xueming turned back and shouted: "Coming!"

The two walked back.

When they reached the door of the Prefabricated Building, Chen Xueming suddenly stopped.

"Lin Mo."

"Hmm?"

"That system simulation..." he lowered his voice, "what exactly is it?"

Lin Mo looked at him and was silent for two seconds.

This was the first time Chen Xueming had asked this question directly.

"A tool," Lin Mo said. "It can help me see things that others cannot see."

Chen Xueming nodded and didn't ask any further.

He knew everyone had secrets. Just like himself, he had a past he didn't want to tell anyone about.

But as long as this secret was used to do good, that was enough.

The two pushed the door open and went in.

The Prefabricated Building was steaming hot; the soldiers from the cooking squad brought by Captain Zhou had cooked a big pot of mutton soup, and the aroma was enticing. Li Xiao was handing out bowls, and Zhang Zhe was already squatting in the corner with a bowl, slurping it up.

"Teacher Chen, Teacher Lin, sit down quickly!" Li Xiao handed over two bowls.

Lin Mo took it and took a sip; the hot soup warmed him from his throat down to his stomach.

He looked at the group of people in the room—Chen Xueming was holding a bowl and drinking the soup in big gulps, Li Xiao was adding soup for Zhang Zhe on the side, and Captain Zhou and a few soldiers were sitting around another table, whispering something.

Outside the window, the wind of the Gobi Desert was still blowing.

But inside the room, it was as warm as home.